Nomenclature needs to reflect more than ambiguous local usage. Ale IS beer...a particular type of beer. It is fine to call Porter or Stout beer, as, like Ale, they are subdivisions....but to call one subdivision by the name of another just invites confusion.

I have no doubt that those who organized CAMRA fully intended to promote 'traditional' Porter & Stout also, but the acronym would not have been so tidy. CAMRABP?CAMPRAB?

Speaking of ales, I have a STRONG Winter ale I have been saving for a day like this...snowed in!